2008-2009 Communications Committee
Current Committee Meeting Minutes

February 10, 2009

TCMA Communications Committee
Texas Municipal Center, 3rd floor conference room
Austin, Texas
February 10, 2009

Members present were Chair Jim Jeffers, City Manager, Nacogdoches; Vice Chair Wendy Smith, Assistant City Manager, McAllen; Bill Funderburk, City Administrator, Hamilton; Michelle McCallum, Budget Manager, Denton; and Josh Selleck, Director of Finance, Kerrville.

Participating by conference call were David Landis, City Manager, Perryton; Shanna Yelverton, City Manager, Southlake; Brad Stafford, City Manager, Navasota; Gary Broz, City Manager, Port Lavaca; Mark Milum, City Manager, Los Fresnos; and Mario Canizares, Deputy City Manager, Coppell.

TML staff present included Kyle J. Jung.

Jim Jeffers called the meeting to order at 10:30 a.m. and welcomed those attending and those participating by conference call.

The committee discussed reasons why the “Crisis Team” was originally developed and questioned if there was a need for it to continue. It was suggested the entire TCMA membership was a member of the “Crisis Team” therefore there was no need to maintain a separate list. On a motion by Gary Broz and a second by Wendy Smith, the committee determined that there is no current need for the “Crisis Team” and recommended TCMA discontinue such.

The committee discussed how TCMA should use technology to provide training to members. Jim Jeffers asked the committee if TCMA should partner with ICMA to produce teleconferences on topics relevant to TCMA members. TCMA would be responsible for identifying topics and speakers, and ICMA would facilitate the actual conference call. Kyle Jung suggested that the TCMA Communications Committee discuss the development of any educational or training events with the TCMA Professional Development Committee so that a single set of educational events TCMA could be developed. On a motion by Gary Broz and a second by Mario Canizares, the committee recommended the TCMA Board authorize the TCMA Communications Committee to investigate possible events that could be co-sponsored by TCMA and ICMA using teleconferencing with the professional development committee identifying potential topics.

The committee discussed the need to continue a list of TCMA members who are willing to speaker at local universities. On a motion by Bill Funderburk and a second by Josh Selleck, the committee determined that it would not continue to maintain a list of speakers, but recommended a brief notice be developed and placed on the TCMA Web Site directing people to the TCMA online membership directory for speakers on municipal government topics.

The committee discussed the Our Town, Texas program and the need for a version that could be used by TCMA members when they are asked to speak at local schools or community meetings. On a motion by Wendy Smith and a second by Michelle McCallum, the committee request the ‘foundation’ develop materials that could be used by TCMA members to make presentations on the council-manager form of government.

The committee discussed the concept of collecting information from members on updated policies and ordinances to create a searchable library. No action was taken regarding this issue.

The committee discussed if there was a need for the TCMA Communications Committee to continue, since it seems the committee is struggling to find a sustainable mission. The committee members asked Jim Jeffers to inquire from the TCMA Board if the Board had a mission or set of goals they wanted the committee to accomplish. If there was no need for the committee to continue, the general consensus of the committee members would be to recommend that the TCMA Board discontinue the TCMA Communications Committee at the end of the current fiscal year.

With no other items on the agenda, the meeting was adjourned at 11:45 a.m.